Date: August 20, 2001
Contact: Marketing Dept., 614.766.0773

TIME TO GET YOUR CHILD'S SLEEP SCHEDULE BACK ON TRACK FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!

DUBLIN, OH-- Students can find it difficult to get back to their school year sleep schedules after the summer months of staying up and waking up at late hours. Back to school means resetting biological clocks to ensure sufficient sleep every night and a healthier, safer and more productive school year. And it isn't too soon for children and their parents to begin planning for the change in sleep schedules.

"It's extremely important for children to be alert when school starts, feeling tired and groggy will impede learning," says Markus H. Schmidt, MD, PhD, director of research at the Ohio Sleep Medicine Institute. "Chance of accidents greatly increase when children are tired," added Dr. Schmidt.

To help parents and children get back to the swing of a new school year, here are some tips to get back to a school sleep schedule. Begin the routine now. Parents should start their child's school sleep routine at least one to two weeks before opening day by going to bed 15-30 minutes earlier each night. This can make it easier for children to adjust their patterns to meet the new school schedule. Establish regular bedtime and wake time. Parents and children should plan a daily schedule that includes the basic daily sleep requirements for particular age groups. This schedule should be maintained on the weekends, though students can be permitted to sleep one to two hours more on weekend mornings, if necessary. While the amount of individual sleep needs can vary, the amount of sleep suggested by sleep experts for a particular age group is:

Create a bedtime routine. Routines are important, regardless of age. It should include at least 15-30 minutes of calm, soothing activities. Discourage television, exercise, caffeine, computer and phone use directly before bed. 

Achieve a balanced schedule. Identify and prioritize activities that allow for downtime and sufficient sleep time. Help students avoid an overloaded schedule that can lead to stress and difficulty coping. Be a role model and a sleep advocate. Parents need to establish their own regular sleep schedule which is conducive to healthy sleep habits.

For interview with internationally renowned sleep researchers, Markus H. Schmidt, MD, PhD or Helmut S. Schmidt, MD. Markus H. Schmidt, MD, PhD joined the Ohio Sleep Medicine Institute in July, 2001.

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